Bicarbonate-based Integrated Carbon Capture and Algae Production System with alkalihalophilic cyanobacterium

Abstract

An extremely alkalihalophilic cyanobacteria Euhalothece ZM001 was tested in the Bicarbonate-based Integrated Carbon Capture and Algae Production System (BICCAPS), which utilize bicarbonate as carbon source for algae culture and use the regenerated carbonate to absorb CO2. Culture conditions including temperature, inoculation rate, medium composition, pH, and light intensity were investigated. A final biomass concentration of 4.79g/L was reached in tissue flask culture with 1.0M NaHCO3/Na2CO3. The biomass productivity of 1.21g/L/day was achieved under optimal conditions. When pH increased from 9.55 to 10.51, 0.256M of inorganic carbon was consumed during the culture process. This indicated sufficient carbon can be supplied as bicarbonate to the culture. This study proved that a high biomass production rate can be achieved in a BICCAPS. This strategy can also lead to new design of photobioreactors that provides an alternative supply of CO2 to sparging. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.